Zay JonesBreaks Silence After Arrest:'Thankful to Be Alive'

3/30/2018 10:29 AM PT

We broke the story ... Jones was arrested for felony vandalism after a ﻿bizarre, nude altercation with his brother at an L.A. apartment. We're told Cayleb -- a Minnesota Vikings player -- was fighting to keep him from jumping out of a hole he kicked out a 30th floor window.

Zay is finally speaking out for the first time since the incident -- on his 23rd birthday -- saying "thankful to be alive. thankful for another year. more life."